Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-07-21


regularly will please report such failures TO this
office promptly
For this section local rains, winds generally
essterly, except variable IN southern Virginia.
stationary temperature.
ACCIDENT TO THE STEAMER ARRowsAnrH.
When the steamer T. Y. Arrowsmith left
her wharf here yesterday morning for Co
lonisl Beach she had over AGO people on
board, composed mostly of women and
children from this city and Washington.
EVERYTHING went smoothly until Lower
Cedar Point was reached and q turn IVES
being made to cross to Colonial Beach, when
three heavy reports, following IN quick
succession. were heard The noise was
like that of q gun, and the boat came to
with suddenness and force that nearly
shook people oil their seats. Following this
came q rush of steam with light Kissing
sound. Immediately panic seized the
passengers; women became terror stricken
aud the children chung closely to their pa
rents, and made the scene more appalling
by their loud cries. Capt. Entwisle, as
soon as he heard the first report, went
among the people and told them Quietly
that thee was no occasion for fear; his oh.
GERS and crew following in like manner DID
everything TO suppress excitement ard sue
ceeded fairly well. The band was ordered
to play u lively tune in the hope OF allaylng
the fears OF the passengers. The racks
where the life preservers were stored, how
ever, were soon emptied of them by the
people, and in brief space Of time they
we're seen fitted TO the bodies of men, wom-
en- and children. Capt. Entwisle mmedi.
ately had the anchor dropped, while the
engineer opened the steam escape valves
10 make the boilers safe. A quick glance
Al the machinery showed that the cause of
beaccdent was due TO the breaking OF the
crcss head and the link connections of the
walking beam, which knocked 4 hole in
the cylinder Had the accident occurred
on the descending instead of the ascending
stroke, q hole would have been stove in the
bottom of the steamer which would have
eUded, doubtless, in the loss of life
Capt Michael White, of the steamer Bishop,
being but short distance aStern, saw that
something was wrong with the ArroWsmith
He ordered Pilot William Luckett to bring
the steamer close up to the disabled vessel.
la q short space of time the Bishop was
alongside the injured steamer. The presence
of the Bishop restored the confidence OF the
terribly excited and frightened people, as they
realized that help was at hand The gang
plank was hardly laid when the people on
the Arrowsmith made o rush for the Bishop.
Capts. Entwisle and White stood by the
gangway and did their utmost TO make the
people pass over in an orderly way, but it
vas no use. Many men jumped over the
rails, and the women crowded each other in
their desperate efforts to get OH the Bishop.
The rush was so great that the two captains
several times were nearly forced overheard.
The passengers were hardly removed when
the steam rushed through the engine room
and soon filed the upper deck OF the Ar
rowsmth The Bishop took the passengers
to Lower Ceder Point, which was close by.
No one was injured. but it WIS 3 miracle
that an accident did not happen at the
gang plank. Qute number OF the men
and women did not regain their senses an.
ill long time after they were ashore.
One large stout built Irish woman was so
overjoyed ut her reecue that she Rugged
Capt White repeatedly aud showered many
a God bless you" on him. Capt. Entwise
and his officers and crew worked hard TO
calm the fear of their passengers, and by
their efforts saved several people from do.
ing many very rash and foolish things. The
Bishop, on arriving at this port, hailed
the tug Templar and sent her down
to the assistance of the Arrowsmth
When the Bishop reached Washington,
shortly before 10 o'clock last night the nine
hundred people on board held q meeting
and passed resolutions Of thanks to Capt
White, Pilot VIM. Luckett, Engineer Louis
Thornton, Mate John Luckett, and the
brave crew for their valiant work and time.
ly rescue Capt Entwise and his officers
and men were also remembered. The ru-
NOR at one time prevailed in WASHINGTON
that the Arrowsmth had sunk with all on
board.
The accident was caused by flaw in the
cross head and not to racing, as was at first
reported. There was no occasion for carrying
extra steam as the Northampton was some
distance ahead of the Arrowsmith and the
Bishop behiod The piston was being forced
upward, aud The cross-tree gave way, which
bent the piston, damaging the cylinder and
otherwise injuring the machinery. Engl-
neer Fox WAS standing on the cylinder en-
gagged in oiling the piston when the accident
occurred, and was thrown by the conclusion
10 the engine room below, distance of
fifteen feet. He WAS uninjured The Ar.
rowsmith arrived here at an early hour
this morning in tow of the tug Tempar.
The machinery OF the steamer is now being
examined by Mr.. w. S. Moore, and the ex-
tent OF the damage cannot now he escer-
tanned, nor is it known whether the boat
Gill be repaired here or elsewhere. 1t will
take some time to put her in running order
again, and in the meantime an attempt will
be made to place another boat or the Colo
NAL Beach route.
The steamer J. W. Thompson which was
in tho vicinity at the time of the accident
offered TO take the passengers of the Arrow
smith over to Colonial Beach and bring
them back on her trip up the river to day.
but the kind offer of the captain of the
Thompson was declined as the passengers
wished to return home last night
END OF THE MURDER TRIAL.-As stated
in he GAZETTE, the case of Douglas, Wes-
ley aud Alfred kidwell and Alfred Barrett,
charged with the murder of George Wer-